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The Gardener’s Plot
The Gardener’s Plot
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Debut Wasn’t Quite Ready to Bloom
Maggie Walker has inherited her grandmother’s house in a small town in the Berkshires. She’s long been a gardener, so when she is asked to help Violet with the new community garden, Maggie jumps in with both feet. But the morning of the grand opening, Violet is nowhere to be found. Then, a member of the community finds a boot in his plot in the community garden. A boot attached to a dead body. With the police thinking Violet might have something to do with it, Maggie’s set out to find her friend and prove she is innocent. But can she do it?

Since this book won a contest to be published, it caught my attention. Sadly, I don’t think it was quite ready for publication. The writing seemed a little vague at times, filling in details later, after we’d already made our impressions of things. The plot bogged down in the middle as Maggie spun her wheels before leading us to a good climax. The main characters were great, but the suspects were a little flat. The setting was charming, and even this non- gardener loved hearing about the plants. I wish I had liked this book better, but I probably won’t be moving on with the series.
  
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ClareR (5911 KP) rated The Change in Books

Jan 13, 2025  
The Change
The Change
Kirsten Miller | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
You don’t have to be a woman of a certain age to read and enjoy The Change, but it will certainly help! It really left me wishing I had some form of power manifesting along with my hot flushes and my (sometimes!) irrational bouts of anger.

The main characters in The Change, Nessa, Harriet and Jo, all start to manifest unusual powers as they hit perimenopause. Harriet grows plants, particularly useful ones; Jo becomes extremely strong; Nessa sees the dead.
These women are set to put the backs up of the rich and powerful men of Mattauk, and seek revenge on behalf of the ghosts of the dead women who suffered at their hands.
The Change has some seriously feminist vibes - these women are fed up of being talked down to and objectified and it seems nature is out to give them a helping hand. I have to admit to being more than a little jealous!
I was utterly hooked, and really didn’t want to put this book down - I knew something even more exciting/ traumatising/ mind blowing was just over the next page!
Part of me would love a follow up to this, but I also rather like the fact that I’m left wondering what on earth could happen next!
  
Bitter Memory
Bitter Memory
Sian Nicholas | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I really enjoyed the twist towards the end of the book (0 more)
There was a fair amount of technical talk especially about the bees and their relationship to the plants. (0 more)
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
Bitter Memory by Sion Nicholas is an interesting book focused on a distant planet where scientist are trying to save the Earth. This read is interesting as much as it is a warning to us about what could happen if we don’t take care of the Earth.

 Scarlett Robins meets her husband while in college studying ways to help end the hunger riots taking place all across the globe. Caleb, her husband, was a guest lecturer for Scarlett’s class and her professor introduced them thinking they would find each other's ideas interesting. During one of their first conversations, the couple talk about grouping crops for research on a distant planet where they wouldn’t affect the Earth’s ecosystem.

 Fast forward a few years later to find Scarlett and Caleb as part of a five-person team on Pygmalion 6, a distant planet, to work on solving the food shortage. Upon arrival Scarlett boots up the computer systems and initializes all security programs, not realizing that she just made a deadly mistake. It takes years before Scarlett and the rest of the team discover just what actions she set in place that fateful first day. Too bad it may already be too late to save anyone from the greedy company they all work for.

 I really enjoyed the twist towards the end of the book. The book was only mildly predictable compared to others of a similar genera, which was nice. Overall the plot was well thought out and well written. There was a fair amount of technical talk especially about the bees and their relationship to the plants. While I understand its importance to the background of the story I felt like it went into unnecessary detail.

 Young adults and adults alike will enjoy this book. There was very little to no inappropriate scenes in this book, plus it only hints at any kind of adult content. That being said high school and older should be alright to read this and most middle school students should be able to handle it with no problem. I rate this book a 3 out of 4. The over detailed technical stuff seemed to take something away from the overall story. Almost as if the book was supposed to be much more in-depth and bigger than what it was. It is because of this that I decided not to give the book a perfect score. Other than that one flaw the book was amazing.

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Starting From Scratch
Starting From Scratch
Kate Lloyd | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Eva Lapp is a young girl or woman. She takes a job that her cousin Olivia recommends. Her brother and his family show up at her parents home two days early. Her sister-in-law decides to send her on her way.

When she gets to Yodel’s Nursery she is in surprise for she thinks she goes to be working with plants. There a surprise when she finds out she is to manage the small cafe.

She seems to be getting suitor left and right, though she does not feel them. She thinks they are either too young or she does not know for sure.

Jake returns and Eva has a feeling for him. Are they true or is she just think she got feelings. Things get a little bumpy when someone breaks into the cafe or at least looks that way. Stephen seems to have a feeling for Eva but does Eva have a feeling for Stephen?

There is an adventure at every turn once you start reading. Some folks keep blaming Jake for the burned down fire? Did Jake do it? Eva also is having trouble with whether to stay Amish or to go English? Kate Lloyd writes a completing story and shows how Eva Lapp is snuggling with her problems. Can she overcome them? Will Jake and Eva turn towards God for help?